When the New York Giants released their final injury report, the Washington Commanders had more reason to worry about a name missing from the list. A breakout candidate with a niche skill is sure to make him a mismatch that could embarrass Dan Quinn's squad at Northwest Stadium in Week 1.
It's tight end Theo Johnson, a second-year pro who flashed his potential at the Commanders' expense last season. Washington's defense will struggle to handle him again unless adjustments are made.
Johnson can exploit a linebacker corps still suspect in space. Specifically, when running backwards to track the ball in the air.
Bobby Wagner remains a cerebral signal-caller and inspirational on-field general, but he's also 35 years old and understandably playing more on his wits than athleticism. Frankie Luvu's an able partner, but this double act is more valuable to the Commanders playing downhill and bringing the thump out of blitz packages.
Commanders need to match fire with fire against Theo Johnson
Going after Washington's linebackers in coverage is the X-factor the Giants are seeking. The Commanders will need a plan to keep Johnson under wraps.
Quinn and defensive coordinator Joe Whitt Jr. should already know what kind of threat Johnson poses. He burned their unit for this 35-yard touchdown when the two teams met most recently in Week 9 of last season.
Daniel Jones to the rookie Theo Johnson for the TD!
📺: #WASvsNYG on FOX
📱: https://t.co/waVpO8ZBqG pic.twitter.com/sdIyUDY5hE
— NFL (@NFL) November 3, 2024
What's significant about this play is the area Johnson attacked. He got vertical on a seam route, a go pattern run from an inside alignment.
Johnson sped past Wagner, who was spot-dropping in zone, before the tight end split deep safeties Jeremy Chinn and Quan Martin. The Giants targeted the spots between the underneath and deep areas of Washington's zone coverage with great success. That should continue.
It's the kind of thing that happens when you don't have linebackers who can carry vertical routes. It also happens when the safeties aren't swift and physical enough to win contested-catch situations over the top.
The Commanders arguably still lack the personnel to match up with Johnson's 6-foot-6, 246-pound frame. Reducing his 11.4 yards per reception average will demand keeping the Penn State product blanketed late into his routes.
One difference from last season is the lack of an obvious candidate to play the hybrid safety/linebacker role Chinn occupied before bolting to the Las Vegas Raiders in free agency. There's no shortage of candidates to take over the multifaceted position, but the Commanders don't need to make this complicated.
What Quinn and Whitt ought to do is give Johnson's fellow second-year player with breakout potential, linebacker Jordan Magee, his chance. He's a 225-pounder who's giving up some weight to the tight end, but he can still body No. 84 underneath and also has enough range to trail him into the deep third.
Although he's again been blighted by preseason injury concerns, Magee did catch the eye against the Baltimore Ravens in the third exhibition game. If he's not at 100 percent, then Kain Medrano can handle the same assignment against Johnson. That's a much riskier proposition.
The sixth-round pick in this year's draft is a raw talent with a similar skill set to Magee, as a designated linebacker who plays like a defensive back. Medrano can play press versus Johnson at the line of scrimmage, a key part of what should be the Commanders' plan.
Hitting Johnson early and often off his release point and out of his breaks will be crucial. So will bracketing him once he gets beyond the initial level of coverage.
If the Commanders aren't ready to do those things with the right players and scheme, Johnson will embarrass them more than star Giants wide receiver Malik Nabers and dangerous running back Tyrone Tracy Jr.
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